LAKEWOOD, N.J. -- BlueClaws general manager Geoff Brown, who has served that role for the team for the duration of its existence, has accepted the position of senior associate athletic director/chief marketing officer for Rutgers Athletics and will start work there on Feb. 11.

Brown was the first employee hired by the BlueClaws, and started in November of 1999, 17 months before the team played its first game. Prior to joining the BlueClaws, he worked for the Norwich Navigators and Trenton Thunder, after graduating from Ithaca College.

"This is a bittersweet day for me," said Brown. "For 13 years, this has been my home and my second family. Leaving Lakewood and the BlueClaws was certainly a difficult decision, but the opportunity to work for Tim Pernetti [Rutgers director of intercollegiate athletics] in this new position as they join the Big Ten was something that I could not pass up."

Under Brown's stewardship, the BlueClaws have led the South Atlantic League in attendance in all 12 years of their existence. He has won the league's General Manager of the Year Award on four occasions and the BlueClaws have received the league's Club Merit Award for excellence in overall operations three times.

"I'd like to thank the hundreds of staff members we've had over the years that have put so much into the BlueClaws, and helped make the BlueClaws a special place," he said. "I'd also like to thank the fans of Ocean and Monmouth Counties, who have been so supportive over the years.

"The people we work with and the fans that support the BlueClaws are what made this decision so difficult."

Brown's final day with the BlueClaws will be on Feb 8.

The BlueClaws open the 2013 season on April 4 against the Kannapolis Intimidators. Ticket packages and group outings are currently on sale. For more information, please call 732-901-7000 option 3 or visit BlueClaws.com online.